Mike Harris, a late-round pick from FSU, providing help around the corner for Jaguars

Defensive back Mike Harris (20) knocks the ball away from Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt during the third quarter of the Jaguars' victory last week at EverBank Field. Harris closed out the win with his first NFL interception as time expired.

Ideally, Mike Harris’ road to the Jaguars would have started at the University of Miami, where he would have made a ton of plays. It would have allowed to him to be drafted high and become an immediate contributor as an NFL cornerback.

That would have been too easy.

Miami didn’t happen. Ditto for a highlight-video college career. And the same goes for hearing his name called when the ESPN and the NFL Network still throw it to the podium for the pick reveal.

But Harris and the Jaguars have turned out as the primary beneficiaries.

Drafted 176th overall last April, Harris has been a pleasant surprise during the Jaguars’ 2-9 season, which continues Sunday at Buffalo. In last week’s win over Tennessee, Harris had his first sack and interception to help break a seven-game losing streak.

“When he’s on the field, no surprises,” safety Dawan Landry says. “He’s been confident the whole time and knows the system inside and out.”

Sitting in a plush leather chair in the Jaguars’ locker room Thursday afternoon, Harris says he has a simple motto: “As long as I’m here the next day.”

The philosophy has worked. When he moved to California for junior college. When Miami didn’t show interest and he attended Florida State. When he played only six snaps in the first six games this year.

“We talk to the young guys all the time and how they have to be patient,” says six-year veteran cornerback Aaron Ross. “At any point, any of us can go down.”

And they have. Derek Cox is out this week, Rashean Mathis has an injured groin and knee and Ross missed the second half last week. Enter opportunities for Harris to show that not only will he be on the Jaguars on The Next Day but likely The Next Year.

Harris admits tough times growing up in South Florida and attending South Miami High School, where he was a quarterback/cornerback in football and went 50-1 as a wrestler in the 160-pound weight class, losing in the state championship match.

“Financially at times, it was a struggle,” he says. “Just a rough neighborhood. It was a different atmosphere.”

At the same time, Harris says: “It was great for me personally. I knew what was important in life and worked toward that. I knew what I wanted for myself.”

Knew what he wanted, but not the right mind-set. So instead of high school to the Hurricanes, he went 2,800 miles west to El Camino Junior College in Torrance, Calif.

“I thought my grades would take care of themselves,” he says. “Football was always definitely No. 1 for me but school wasn’t up so high. But going [to El Camino] made me realize you can’t have football without school. I sat down and focused on both.”

Not there was much else to do for Harris.

No car?

“Did a lot of walking.”

But at least close to the ocean, right?

“Too far, not even close.”

Not like home?

“No comparison. A totally different world. … I was hoping I would get back to Miami.”

In two junior college years, Harris had 66 tackles and four interceptions. Miami didn’t call, but Florida State was persistent and he joined the Seminoles.

BECOMING A JAGUAR

There would be no redshirt year or developmental time for Harris at Florida State.

“I definitely put pressure on myself to come in, learn the system and perform well right away,” he says. “There was no time for error at that point.”

Harris had 99 tackles and five interceptions in two years for the Seminoles, despite starting only seven of 27 games.

The Seminoles’ history of defensive backs playing in the NFL, along with Harris’ ability to cover the slot (inside) receiver, tackle and play special teams put him on the Jaguars’ radar during the 2010 season.

“When you’re dealing with ACC and SEC players, they’re playing on a good team and have some athletic ability so you better start watching them early,” says Tim Mingey, the Jaguars’ assistant director of college personnel. “And when I started watching him in matchups, he was playing consistently in all of them.”

Mingey said the Jaguars were “a little shocked” Harris didn’t get invited to any of the post-season all-star games. But by that point, the Jaguars were also glad — they were hoping Harris wouldn’t get exposed to other teams.

The Jaguars’ interest continued the night before Florida State’s Pro Day. Secondary coach Tony Oden arrived early to have dinner with Harris at the LongHorn Steak House in Tallahassee. For Harris, it was a chance to have a rib-eye and fries. For Oden, it was a chance to get a read on the player.

“It was in his home setting and you get see how people around the school respond and interact with him,” Oden says. “Everybody had positive vibes about him. He was quiet and pretty reserved, but very sharp and articulate.”

The slot experience was particularly intriguing to the Jaguars.

“It helped us in our evaluation because a lot of times, you look at these guys before the draft and you don’t see them playing the slot,” McDonough says. “But he did. Things happen quicker in there. Since he played it and we saw it, we could evaluate him properly and base it on the role he would play with us.”

Says Ross, who has played the position for the Giants and Jaguars: “That’s very rare [to have that experience]. It’s a very hard position to play and understand. It speaks volumes to how he understands the game and how physically he can play in there.”

In the days leading to the draft, only the Jaguars and Tampa Bay reached out to Harris to express their interest. During the Jaguars’ draft deliberations, McDonough said the grades on Harris were consistent. And when the sixth round started, they jumped.

“He was kind of sticking out on our draft board,” McDonough says. “It was a pretty easy selection when we made it.”

And once he started playing, it’s been an easy decision to keep him on the field. When Mathis was injured against Oakland, Ross moved outside and Harris played the slot. He made two plays right away when challenged downfield by Raiders tight end Marcel Reece. At a position where Cox and Mathis are free agents, Harris could be carving out a niche, maybe even as a starter.

“Time will tell,” Oden says. “He’s started, played well and is progressing. He’s had to compete every day to play. The opportunity came and he had to take advantage. He made one play and then another and he has continued to make plays.”

Wow, did our Gene Smith actually draft a decent player? What a great story. Nobody ever put a silver spooning Harris's mouth. He earned it. Great player, great draft pick, of course nobody notices the good picks, it's just when yor team loses you want to blame the guy in charge.